“We are going on an indefinite nationwide strike from October 1 as the Transport Ministry has failed to resolve our issues such as removal of toll by paying periodically as well as the long standing demand of Tax Deduction at Source (TDS),” All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) President Bhim Wadhwa said.

If the truckers go on a nationwide ‘chakkajam’ then the country will incur losses to the tune of Rs. 1,500-1,700 crore per day on account of total halt of essential supplies and other goods, he added.

“We had met Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari yesterday, but to no avail. We are now left with no other option than to take this extreme step,” Mr Wadhwa said.

He added that if toll plazas are removed, hassle free transportation would result in savings of public money to the tune of Rs. 87,000 crore annually that accounts for 3 per cent of the country’s GDP, as per an IIM Kolkata study.

This amount is due to loss of fuel on account of waiting at toll plazas as well as delays caused, Mr Wadhwa said.